Method for adjusting the length of structural members



Jan. 28, 1936- R. SEEMAN ET AL METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OFSTRUCTURAL MEMBERS Fil ad Dec. 25, 1931 mgr INVENTORS ww Patented Jan.28, 1936 METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS RobertSeeman, Merrick, N. Y., and Allen R. Wilson, Philadelphia, Pa.,assignors to Ernest H. Pacy, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application December 23, 1931, Serial No. 582,840

13 Claims. (01. 29-151) Our invention relates to the adjusting of thelength of structural members, and is particularly useful for adjustingthe length of the eye-bars for bridges, although it has numerous otherapplications.

In certain structures it sometimes becomes desirable to adjust thelength of certain of the structural members. For instance, many bridgesemploy eye-bar members in their construction. These eye-bars have eyesat each end, which eyes are engaged by pins. After a period of time, theeye-bars become loose and rattle, due to wear on the edges of the bar oron the pins passing through these eyes, or due to an increase in thelength of the members, or to a combination of thesecauses. Due to thefact that the members do not wear evenly, some members are increased inlength, which throws too large a proportion of the strain on certainmembers, and as a consequence, the bridge as a whole is weakened. Thestrength of the structure can be increased and its life materiallylengthened if this wear can be taken up. Occasionally it is necessary toincrease the length of these eye-bars, and sometimes it is necessary toreplace one.

It has heretofore been customary to construct devices of the generalnature herein contemplated, in such manner that the device has to I beleft in position on the structural member when the repair is completed.This is both unsightly and expensive, particularly in a structure whereseveral of its members have been adjusted by the method disclosed, forinstance, in U. S. Patent No. 1,714,187, granted May 21, 1929, to ErnestH. Pacy, and over which the present invention is an improvement.

According to our invention, we provide a method for adjusting orchanging the length of structural members, whereby such means can beused over and over again for this purpose. It is particularly useful fortaking up slack in the eye-bars of bridges. It can also be used inoperations in which the length of such eye-bars is to be increased, andit has numerous other applications.

This invention contemplates the use of a takeupdevice or an adjustableconnector utilizing a screw-thread adjustment which can be removablyconnected at spaced points to the structural members, the length ofwhich it is desired to adjust or change. In practice, shoulder platesare connected to the members, preferably by welding. The take-up deviceis removably connected to such shoulder plates and the threaded memberstightened so as to test the connections.

The eye-bar may then be severed as by a cutting torch, and the overalllength of the bar adjusted by means of the threaded members. The severedportions of the eye-bar are then fastened together by splice plateswhich are secured in position, preferably by welding. The take-up devicemay then be removed.

In the accompanying drawing, we have shown for purposes of illustrationonly, one form of apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the method of practicing theinvention with the take-up device in position on the structural elementto be adjusted, the drawing showing the parts after the adjustingoperation has been completed;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line IIII of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal center line section of the adjusted eye-barafter the take-up device has been removed;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line VV of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows, with the take-up device inposition.

In practicing our invention, we provide a device which may be secured tothe structural element, the length of which is to be adjusted, afterwhich the structural element is severed at a point intermediate thelength of said device, said device then taking the tension. The devicewhich we have shown for this purpose comprises two sets of plates, oneset being designated 2 and the other set being designated 3. The twoplates of each set are provided with registering holes through whichbolts 4 are passed, these bolts being provided with nuts so that theplates can be clamped onto the structural member 5 which is to berepaired. Inserted between the plates 2 are the flattened end portions 8of rods 1 having threaded portions 8. Similar rods 9 with fiattened endportions and threaded portions II are bolted to the plates 3. Thethreaded portions 8 and I l of these rods are reversely threaded and areengaged by a turnbuckle I 2.

In the use of this device, the point is first selected along the lengthof the eye-bar at which the repair is to be made. Shoulder plates orbuttresses I3 are first welded onto both faces of the eye-bar somedistance from the point where the eye-bar is to be severed. These platesare preferably bifurcated as shown in order that to their respectiveplatesj After the take-up device comprising the winggplates and theadjustable rods, has been thus secured to the eye-bar, it is severed atE31. If the eye-bar is too long, or it is desired to shorten it to takeup for wear at its ends, a definite length of metal is removed at thepoint l4, whereas if itis desired to lengthen the eyeT-bar, a single cutat this point is made; After the cutting has been completed, theturnlgiuckles are operated either to draw the severed ends towgrd eachother or to let them move apart to the necessary extent, depending onwhether the operation is one of shortening or lengthening the bar. Afterthe proper adjustment has been made, splice plates !5 arefwelded to theopposite faces of the severed ends of the bar. These splice plates alsopreferably have bifurcated end portions in order to increase the lengthof the edge weld. The splice plates having been secured in place, thejjtake-up device may then be removed. In reme-ving them, the turnbucklesare preferably slacked off gradually in order that thestrain will begadually applied to the splice plates so that if there is any Weaknessin the splice it may, be detected before the take-up device has beenompletely removed. In operating in this way, the same take-up device canbe used over and ovfer again;

It may frequently happen that the eye-bars are of greater thicknesthanthe width of the flattened terminal portions of the threaded rodmembers. In case the eye-bars 5 are thicker than the flattened endportions 6 and I0 of the threaded rod members, shims l6 should beinserted between the flattened ends and the wing plates 2 and 3, isshown in Figure 5. After the splicing of the ends has been completed,the joint comprises merely the two splice plates connectinggi headjacent ends of the bar, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The shoulderplates l3 remain impositionlon the bar and are available for use in theevent that any further adjustment should ever be required.

7 It will be appreciated that the invention may Joeused in a like mannerfor joining the' ends of @any two structural members, particularly when;such members are placed in a structure where they are under tension.

g The method provides a convenient and satisfactory process foradjusting the length of the structural members, or joining the ends oftwo structural members. It has a considerable advantage over methodsi'asheretofore practiced wherein the take-up device, which is necessarilyheavy and expensive, must remain as a permanent, integral part of thestructure, these take-up devices being unsightly .:as well as expensive.

' It will be understood'that we have illustrated and described in detaila preferred embodiment,

removable take-up device to the member spaced points thereon, tighteningthe take-up Will device to put it under strain to test 1t, thereaftersevering the structural member in'the por tion spanned by the take-updevice, adjusting the severed ends with respect toeach other, joiningthe severed ends, and removing the take-up device from the member.

2. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, whichcomprises fastening shoulder plates'lthereto at spaced. points, applyinga removable take-up device to'the member to cooperate with the shoulderplates, tightening the taise-up device so'as to test the shoulder platessevering the structural member between the connections, adjusting thesevered ends with respect to each other, applying splice plates tp thesevered ends to joint them, and removing the take-up device from themember.

3. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, whichcomprises :iastening shou der plates to the member as spaced points,applying a removable take-up device to the shoulder plates, tighteningthe take-up device so as to test the welds, severing the structuralmember between the shoulder plates, welding a splice plate to thesevered ends to join them, and removing the take-up device from themember.

4. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, whichcomprises fastening shoulder plates to the member at spaced points,applying a removable take-up device to the shoulder plates, tighteningthe take-up device so as to test the welds, severing the structuralmember between the shoulder plates, adjusting the severed ends withrespect to each other, welding a splice plate with bifurcated ends tothe severed portions and on each side thereof, and removing the take-updevicefrom the member.

5. The method of adjusting the length Ora structural member, whichcomprises applying a removable take-up device to the member at spacedpoints thereon, severing the structural member between the spacedpoints, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, joiningthe severed ends and removing the take-up device from the member.

6. The method of "adjusting the ;length of structural members, whichcomprises fastening shoulder plates thereto at spaced'points thereon,applying wing plates adapted: to cooperate with and bear against theends of the shoulder plates, connecting the wing plates by means ofadjusting members, and thereafter varying the length of the adjustingmembers tonnove the parts .to which the shoulder plates are attachedtoward or away from each other. H

'7. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, whichcomprises welding shoulder plates to the member on opposite sidesthereof and at spaced points thereon, removably connecting a? take-updevice to cooperate'with and bear against the shoulder plates, severingthe structural member between the shoulder plates, adjusting the severedends with respect to each other, joining the severed ends and iremovingthe take-up device from the member.

8. The method of adjusting the length or a structural member, whichcomprises welding shoulder plates to the member at spaced pointsthereon, removably connecting a take-up device to cooperate withtheshoulder plates, severing the structural member between the shoulderplates, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, applyingsplice plates to join the severed ends of said member, and removing thetake-up device from the member. I

9. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, whichcomprises welding shoulder plates with one end bifurcated to the memberat spaced points thereon, removably connecting a take-up device tocooperate with the shoulder plates, severing the structural memberbetween the shoulder plates, adjusting the severed ends with respect toeach other, applying splice plates with bifurcated ends on each side ofthe structural member to join the severed ends of said member, andremoving the take-up device from the member.

10. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member in thestructure, which comprises forming buttresses thereon at spaced pointsin the length of said member, applying an adjustable connector to saidmember in such manner as to cooperate with the buttresses, taking up onsaid connector to exert a strain on the buttresses to test the securitythereof, severing the structural member between the buttresses,adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, and thereafterjoining the ends and remov- Eng the adjustable connector.

11. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member in thestructure, which comprises forming buttresses thereon at spaced pointsin the length of said member, applying an adjustable connector to saidmember in such manner as to cooperate with the buttresses, severing thestructural member between the buttresses, adjusting the severed endswith respect to each other, and thereafter joining the ends and removingthe adjustable connector.

12. A method of the class described, comprising the formation ofbuttresses on a structural element at each side of a point where saidelement is to have a joint, applying an adjustable connector to saidelement in such manner as to bear against the buttresses thereon,adjusting said connector to bring the portions of said element to bejoined into the desired relation, forming a joint between such portions,and removing the adjustable connector.

13. A method of the class described, comprising welding shoulder plateson a structural member to form buttresses at each side of a point wheresaid member is to have a joint, applying an adjustable connector to saidelement in such manner as to bear against the buttresses thereon,adjusting said connector to bring the portions of said element to bejoined into the desired relation, applying splice plates to the twoportions of said element to join them, and removing the adjustableconnector.

ALLEN R. WILSON. ROBERT SEEMAN.

